How the points system works:

Essentially the number of points per competitor per event depends on the number and ratings of the competitors in the event. A small event is worth fewer points than a larger event and an event with relatively higher rated fencers is worth more than an event with lower rated fencers.

So an event with 10 U rated fencers is worth 10 points to the winner. An event with 20 U rated fencers is worth 20 points to the winner.

When an event is made up of fencers with different ratings, the one to one correlation between number of fencers and number of points when all are unrated goes away, and differential weights are incorporated into the calculation.

Ratings weights are shown in the second row of the table below. The presence of one A rated fencer in a competition is worth 32 points, a B is half that, a C, half a B, and so on to U.

Rating A B C D E U Total
WEIGHT for rating 32 16 8 4 2 1
NUMBER of fencers in each rating 0 1 1 0 1 6 9
Number of points for each rating 0 16 8 0 2 6 32

In the example above, there are no A fencers, one B fencer, one C fencer, no D fencers, one E fencer, and six U fencers - a total of nine fencers. If all were unrated, the event in the example would be worth nine points, but the B, C, and E fencers make the event worth 32 points.

In the example above, the winner gets 32 points. The next calculation is the assignment of points to the fencers who come in second through last (ninth).

Finish Actual Points Difference
1 32.00
2 29.44 2.560
3 27.20 2.240
4 27.20 0.000
5 22.40 4.800
6 22.24 0.160
7 22.08 0.160
8 21.92 0.160
9 17.12 4.800

Notice that there is a smaller diffence between the points awarded within a table than between tables. Failure to make it to top eight or top four represents loss of a direct elimination bout so the difference between fifth and fourth (tied for third) is 4.8 points (22.4 as opposed to 27.2), while the difference within a table, say between fifth and sixth, is neglible (0.16 points).

Now that you have perfect understanding of how the points are calculated, it is left to know what is counted. The Georgia Division keeps track of points standings for: mixed open, D & under, veterans, “pre-teens” (fencers who will not reach 14 in 2008), and unrated fencers in all three weapons.

Some events do not count toward the standings. For instance, if there is a women’s event, but no corresponding men’s event, the women’s event will not count toward the standings. But if there is a corresponding men’s event, both sex restricted events will count. Events not sanctioned by the Gerogia Division do not count. Georgia Division fencers do not earn points in non-Georgia Division events, including nationals and international events. Team events no longer count toward individual points standings.

A fencer can earn points by playing “up”. For instance, a D rated fencer earns points in D and under events, but also in open events towars his or her D & Under ranking. But his standing in the open rankings does not include the points in D and under events.

Fencers we turn 13 and become eligible to fence in senior events will not have points earned in senior events added to their “Pre-Teen” ranking.

The general idea is to have a points system that encourages participation. Suggestions are welcome.